[Clinical value of a rapid immunochromatographic assay in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of bone and joint tuberculosis].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical value of a rapid immunochromatographic assay in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of bone and joint tuberculosis.

METHOD: Antibodies in sera from 75 patients with active bone and joint tuberculosis, 69 patients with non-tuberculous bone and joint diseases and 72 healthy individuals were detected by the rapid immunochromatographic assay using ICT-TB kit.

RESULT: The positive rate was found to be 80% in the patients with active bone and joint tuberculosis, while 90% in the group with spinal tuberculosis, 53% in the extra-spinal articular tuberculosis. The false positive rates were 4% and 3% respectively in those with other bone and joint diseases and healthy individuals.

CONCLUSION

The assay is a rapid, sensitive and specific supplementary tool for the diagnosis of the bone and joint tuberculosis.